It may be November, but going by the news lately it seems like it’s full-blown wedding season.
From the never-ending (so far!) issue of gay marriage in America to the announcement of the next Royal Wedding across the pond, marriage has been making waves–and headlines–as of late. But how do we really feel about the sometimes revered, sometimes reviled tradition?
Belinda Luscombe, editor at large for TIME, examines the cultural tradition of marriage as well as the latest statistics from PEW Research Center, asking who actually needs marriage and why. For the surprising answers check out her story on TIME.com.